The study was carried out during 2020–21 on the soil fertility status of Kalapipal tehsil in Shajapur district, Madhya Pradesh. The decline in soil fertility is causing growing concerns over the sustainability of Indian agriculture. The study included soil physical properties, soil chemical properties, and correlations among various soil properties for detailed data on soil fertility. The physical properties of the soil included the sand, silt, and clay content of the soils of Kalapipal tehsil. The sand content ranged from 13.7 to 28.7% among the 101 collected samples, with an average of 22.1%. The silt content of the soils of Kalapipal tehsil ranged from 24.4 to 34.6% among the 101 collected samples. The clay content of the studied soils ranged from 41.4% to 47.5%, with a mean value of 48.9%. The water-soluble cations, viz., Ca++, Mg++, Na+, and K+, content of the soils of Kalapipal tehsil ranged from 3.23 to 15.47 me L-1, 2.32 to 9.18 me L-1, 0.79 to 2.30 me L-1 and 0.21 to 1.87 me L-1, respectively. The mean water-soluble Ca++, Mg++, Na+, and K+ contents of the studied soils were 9.78 me L-1, 4.68 me L-1, 1.31 me L-1 and 0.54 me L-1, respectively. Similarly, the water-soluble anions, viz., CO32-, HCO3-, Cl-, and SO42- content of the soils of Kalapipal tehsil ranged from 0.40 to 3.33 me L-1, 4.75 to 12.40 me L-1, 1.66 to 9.89 me L-1 and 0.21 to 10.03 me L-1, respectively, among the studied samples. The mean water soluble CO32-, HCO3-, Cl- and SO42- content of studied soils was found 1.39 me L-1, 8.36 me L-1, 4.56 me L-1 and 1.92 me L-1, respectively. Further, the exchangeable cations viz., Ca++, Mg++, Na+ and K+ content of soils of Kalapipal tehsil ranged 13.70 to 32.26 me L-1, 4.98 to 19.67 me L-1, 2.44-7.07 me L-1 and 0.16-0.44 me L-1, respectively. The mean exchangeable Ca++, Mg++, Na+ and K+ content of soils of Kalapipal tehsil was found 21.12 me L-1, 9.95 me L-1, 4.04 me L-1 and 0.26 me L-1, respectively. The CEC of soils of Kalapipal tehsil ranged from 30.07 to 51.47 cmol kg-1 with an average value of 35.37 cmol kg-1 pH of soils of Kalapipal tehsil ranged from 7.22 to 8.26, with an average value of 7.70 indicating the neutral to slightly acidic nature of the studied soils. Similarly, the EC of soils of Kalapipal tehsil ranged from 0.14 to 1.94 dS m-1 among the 101 collected samples. The mean EC of soils of Kalapipal tehsil was found to be 0.67 dS m-1. The results revealed the non-saline nature of the studied soils. The SOC content of soils of Kalapipal tehsil ranged from 0.32% to 0.92% among the 101 collected samples. The mean SOC content of soils of Kalapipal tehsil was found to be 0.52% indicating medium SOC content in studied soils. The available N, P and K content of the soils of Kalapipal tehsil ranged from 96.6 to 392.3 kg ha-1, 5.5 to 34.2 kg ha-1 and 218.1-593.8 kg ha-1, respectively among the studied samples. Further, the mean available N, P and K content of soils of Kalapipal tehsil was found 195.1 kg ha-1, 14.7 kg ha-1 and 393.3 kg ha-1, respectively.

Electrical conductivity, exchangeable cation, soil physical properties, soil fertility, water soluble cation.

The soil of Kalapipal tehsil belongs to clayey texture (sand, silt and clay found 22.1%, 29.0% and 48.9%, respectively). The studied soil is neutral to slightly alkaline (pH-7.70) in reaction, non-saline (EC-0.67 dS m-1) and medium in soil organic carbon content (0.52%). The soil available N (195.1 kg ha-1) and P (14.7 kg ha-1) content are medium whereas the K (393.3 kg ha-1) content is high. The soil organic carbon content of soil showed significant and positive correlation with soil available N. The EC of soil saturation extract showed significant positive correlation with water soluble Ca++, water soluble Mg++, water soluble Na+, water soluble K+, water soluble CO3--, water soluble HCO3- , water soluble Cl- and water soluble SO4--. The soil electrical conductivity showed significant and positive correlation with soil available P.

Neetu Kokode, K.S. Bangar, Alpana Kumhare, Kailash Kumar and Yagini Tekam (2023). Study on Soil Fertility Status of Kalapipal Tehsil of Shajapur District, Madhya Pradesh. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(11): 62-70.